tongue Blocking
Hi David,
Before subscribing to this site i was primarily using a puckered embouchure. i did some tongue blocking, generally on melody pieces which didn't require bending. i found it awkward changing between puckering and TB, so decided to just learn to play TB.
Now i tongue-block almost 100%, and am quite happy with it.
recently though i heard Jerry Portnoy (on his Harmonica Masterclass CDs) warning against full-time TB, in particular on the 1st 3 holes. he said he used to TB full-time but developed an 'asymmetric embouchure' and now changes to a pucker embouchure for playing the low octave.
Do you have any thoughts about this? Any idea what Jerry might mean about an asymmetric embouchure?
Cheers,
Dave
I just got off the phone with Jerry and he clarified this for us. I've worked/played with him on numerous occasions, but I too was not sure exactly what he was stating here.
In his opinion the pucker embouchure is well balanced... air goes through the center of your embouchure and all the muscles that support it are centered. For him, when he tongue blocks, he uses more muscles on one side and tends to use more muscles of the tongue in the tongue block bending process. This is what he meant when stating "asymmetric embouchure."
The conversation that followed was what I expected and was similar to one I'd had many years ago with him... his choice for when he tongue blocks and when he puckers... all for the desired affect.
In the end it gets down to what feels best for you. When practicing tongue block bending keep in mind that only your tongue moves, so there is no auxiliary muscles needed nor do you need to "muscle-up" your tongue for the bending process. At first it will feel this way, as in any type of embouchure when bending, but in time your embouchure will be relaxed.
Thanks to Jerry for spending the time to answer this question.
Thanks so much for following this up with Jerry, David. And thanks to Jerry. I really appreciate it.
I am quite comfortable tongue blocking and tongue block bending most of the time. it feels the natural way to play now. Jim Conway (Captain Matchbox Whoopee Band, Backsliders, Jim Conway's Big Wheel) had also told me about not tongue block bending 1 2 & 3, but in the same conversation he recommended Jerry's "Masterclass" CDs to me, so i expect he was passing on from that source.
Anyway, thats really good. I'll keep on with what i am doing and wont fret.
Thanks again,
Dave
David,
Thanks for clearing this up. I actually was using my tongue to TB bend and also am able to use my throat muscles to TB bend and was experimenting and wondering which is better? IS one perfered over the other for a specific reason?
"When practicing tongue block bending keep in mind that only your tongue moves"
Thanks 528hemi
Tongue... not throat. Throat has nothing to do with the bending process... you don't want auxiliary tension in your body that's not needed.
It's good to know how to do both. There are times I pucker for the speed of articulation (think Jason Ricci), but it's rare that I switch... you can be very fast in a TB as well... the key word is ARTICULATION. I don't know what Jerry is talking about there... I just sent him an email... I'll get back to you on that.